Sunday, November 25, 2007

Ruthy Johnson

There aren't many Disney old-timers around today, but Daily Variety has a nice story on Ruthy Johnson, a 97-year-old resident of the Motion Picture and Country home. She went to work for Walt Disney Productions shortly after she met the boss at the Burbank Stables. Ruthy worked at the stables; Walt Disney used the place to train for polo.

All of a sudden this guy looks me in the eye and says, 'Ruthy Johnson, what are you doing here?' Disney suggested that she come work for him, and when sh told him she couldn't draw, he insisted. "You don't need to. We'll teach you." ..

Hard to get a job offer like that from Disney these days; it was obviously easier when the guy who had his name over the gate liked you.

Ruthy, along with Ollie Johnston, is among the oldest veterans who remain alive.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what did Ruthy Johnson end up doing at the studio? C'mon man; don't leave us hanging...

Jeff Massie said...

Ruthy Johnson started as an inker and painter, and then became a scene planner and eventually head of the scene planning department.

The Variety article referred to her as an animator in the header, and then later as a "scenery planner". Other than that they seem to have gotten it right ;)

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